BRIEFLY

A Canadian publishing firm agreed to buy Cordura.

International Thomson Organisation Ltd. (ITOL), based in Toronto, said it will pay $35 a share in cash for Cordura, a Los Angeles-based concern that publishes auto repair and insurance manuals. The total value of the deal is about $203 million, the two companies said. Directors of both firms have approved the merger. ITOL also said it has an additional agreement to buy about 1 million newly issued common shares of Cordura "in certain circumstances." The firms declined to comment on the apparent lockup provision.